Projects
Students in Kyrgyzstan giving feedback
Meeting the Minister of Education: Zanzibar Tanzania
Professional Staff Development: Barnstone Group South Africa
Using Cooperative Learning Structures ensure high levels of engagement
Transforming the learning experience: Genosis Project, Malaysia
The Inspired: Are You Future-ready Conference = Day 5 content summary
Parent engagement in Kyrgyzstan Schools
Transferring learning: Building coach capacity. Malaysia
Ministry of Education Kyrgyzstan meeting
EduLead Kyrgyzstan: Team Building
Leadership development: EduLead Tanzania
Visible Thinking Structures in Action: Leadership development.
Leadership Development Kyrgyzstan
Building thinking cultures in Malaysian schools
NGO collaboration as CEO of the Malaysian Collective Impact Initiative (MCII)
Leadership Development: Pintar Foundation Malaysia
Developing Emotional Intelligence: Prestige College South Africa
Kickstarting Leadership Development Malaysia
With Graca Machel and the South African Minister of Education, Hong Kong
Collaboration, Networking and Sustainable Investment, Malaysia
Online networking
AIM, Genovasi Foundation and the MOE Advisory Panel, Malaysia
Collaborative Learning in transformed learning environments, Tanzania
Leadership Capacity Building: EduLead - NAMA Foundation/Renforcement des capacités de leadership : EduLead - Fondation NAMA
The EduLead Programme is a leadership capacity building programme designed and developed by Elmarie Potgieter and associates. The programme is conducted across four countries (Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Tanzania and Lebanon) on behalf of the NAMA Foundation. This comprehensive programme involves the training of 80+ Master Coaches who in turn transfer the learning to their own institutions.
The programme impacts directly on 70+ schools and more than 200 schools indirectly, with thousands of teachers and school leaders benefiting from the intensive training programme - ultimately therefore on the lives of tens of thousands of students and their parents. The programme has been featured on Africa TV, Kyrgyzstan national television and in numerous local and international webinars and programmes that discuss the transformation that has resulted in schools and learner outcomes as a result.
Due the COVID programme training moved from a blended to a fully online training programme. Capacity building with local organisations (NICE Indonesia, NICE Kyrgyzstan and NICE Tanzania) as well as the fully trained local coaches, has ensured that they are now fully equipped with the skills to continue with the delivery of the programme to new participants, thus creating a sustainable source of income and a scalable learning base for continued future growth.
Annual impact assessments provided detailed trend reports to the NAMA Foundation.
Le programme EduLead est un programme de renforcement des capacités de leadership conçu et développé par Elmarie Potgieter et ses associés. Le programme est mené dans quatre pays (Indonésie, Kirghizstan, Tanzanie et Liban) pour le compte de la Fondation NAMA. Ce programme complet comprend la formation de plus de 80 maîtres-coaches qui, à leur tour, transfèrent l'apprentissage à leurs propres institutions. Le programme a un impact direct sur plus de 70 écoles et plus de 200 écoles indirectement, avec des milliers d'enseignants et de chefs d'établissement bénéficiant du programme de formation intensive - et par conséquent sur la vie de dizaines de milliers d'élèves et de leurs parents. Le programme a été présenté sur Africa TV, la télévision nationale kirghize et dans de nombreux webinaires et programmes locaux et internationaux qui discutent de la transformation qui en a résulté dans les écoles et des résultats des apprenants.
Grâce au programme COVID, la formation est passée d'un programme mixte à un programme de formation entièrement en ligne. Le renforcement des capacités des organisations locales (NICE Indonésie, NICE Kirghizstan et NICE Tanzanie) ainsi que des coachs locaux entièrement formés, a permis de s'assurer qu'ils disposent désormais des compétences nécessaires pour continuer à dispenser le programme à de nouveaux participants, créant ainsi une source de revenus durable et une base d'apprentissage évolutive pour une croissance future continue. Les évaluations d'impact annuelles ont fourni des rapports de tendance détaillés à la Fondation NAMA.
Creating a Thinking Culture in Secondary Schools: The Genosis Programme Malaysia - Genovasi Foundation/
Créer une culture de la pensée dans les écoles secondaires : Le programme Genosis en Malaisie - Fondation Genovasi
Elmarie Potgieter led her team of 20+ consultants (international and local) in the design, development and training of officials of the Genosis Project in Malaysia. This project, commissioned by the Malaysian Innovation Agency (AIM) and the Genovasi Foundation, is the Asian alternative for the International Baccalaureate with a focus on enhancing national curriculums through a programme that engages students in innovative thinking and a global perspective. The programme has been rolled out in Malaysian National Schools since 2019, with the aim of extending the reach beyond Malaysia to its Asean neighbours in 2022 and beyond.
Elmarie and her team of consultants also developed the standards framework for the programme and conducts annual national impact assessments for the programme owner and the Malaysian government. The programme includes the use of design thinking in the teaching of all curriculum subjects and an e-portfolio to provide a holistic assessment of student 21st century skills. Consultancy support is also provide to the client through presentations to the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Innovation and Technology and various other stakeholders, long-term expansion frameworks and online team consultation.
Elmarie Potgieter a dirigé son équipe de plus de 20 consultants (internationaux et locaux) dans la conception, le développement et la formation des responsables du projet Genosis en Malaisie. Ce projet, commandé par l'Agence malaisienne pour l'innovation (AIM) et la Fondation Genovasi, est l'alternative asiatique au baccalauréat international, avec pour objectif d'améliorer les programmes scolaires nationaux grâce à un programme qui engage les élèves dans une réflexion innovante et une perspective globale. Le programme a été déployé dans les écoles nationales malaisiennes depuis 2019, avec l'objectif d'étendre sa portée au-delà de la Malaisie à ses voisins de l'Asean en 2022 et au-delà.
Elmarie et son équipe de consultants ont également élaboré le cadre de normes pour le programme et mènent des évaluations annuelles de l'impact national pour le propriétaire du programme et le gouvernement malaisien. Le programme prévoit l'utilisation de la pensée conceptuelle dans l'enseignement de toutes les matières du programme et un portefeuille électronique pour fournir une évaluation globale des compétences des étudiants au XXIe siècle. Un soutien en matière de conseil est également fourni au client par le biais de présentations au ministère de l'éducation, au ministère de l'innovation et de la technologie et à diverses autres parties prenantes, de cadres d'expansion à long terme et de consultations d'équipe en ligne.
Thinking Skills in the Early Years: ThinkWise: Little People Big Ideas RITE International/La capacité de raisonnement dans la petite enfance : ThinkWise : Little People Big Ideas RITE International
The ThinkWise programme provides structured support to teachers, facilitators and parents in developing thinking skills in young children, aged 5-7. Our curriculum supports the development of critical and creative thinking skills, promotes the development of emotional intelligence as well as mindfulness. The ThinkWise curriculum also enhances communication, collaboration, creativity and the development of empathy, mindfulness and social skills that support the holistic development of children and acquisition of skills needed in the 21st century.
In a rapidly changing world where technological advances change the demands on innovation and thinking skills almost on a daily basis, the learning landscape and approaches to developing thinking in our children also has to change. Neurological research has proven that windows of opportunity exist in young children’s brains to build the basis for neurological networks that will determine thinking patterns and the effectiveness of future learning. This is why we developed ThinkWise.
Through the ThinkWise programme, children are introduced to 10 thinking strategies through activities designed to enrich learning across the curriculum. The programme provides extension activities for parents to be implemented at home. It is essential that parents and caregivers are involved and reinforce the use of the strategies in different situations and environments that young people find themselves in.
Elmarie Potgieter is the owner and designer of the ThinkWise Programme.
Read more about it here:
https://thinkwise.education/
Le programme ThinkWise apporte un soutien structuré aux enseignants, aux animateurs et aux parents pour développer les capacités de réflexion des jeunes enfants de 5 à 7 ans. Notre programme soutient le développement de la pensée critique et créative, favorise le développement de l'intelligence émotionnelle et de la pleine conscience. Le programme ThinkWise améliore également la communication, la collaboration, la créativité et le développement de l'empathie, de la pleine conscience et des compétences sociales qui favorisent le développement holistique des enfants et l'acquisition des compétences nécessaires au 21e siècle.
Dans un monde qui évolue rapidement et où les progrès technologiques modifient presque quotidiennement les exigences en matière d'innovation et de réflexion, le paysage de l'apprentissage et les approches visant à développer la réflexion chez nos enfants doivent également changer. La recherche neurologique a prouvé qu'il existe des fenêtres d'opportunité dans le cerveau des jeunes enfants pour construire la base des réseaux neurologiques qui détermineront les modes de pensée et l'efficacité de l'apprentissage futur. C'est pourquoi nous avons développé ThinkWise.
Grâce au programme ThinkWise, les enfants sont initiés à dix stratégies de réflexion par le biais d'activités conçues pour enrichir l'apprentissage dans le cadre du programme scolaire. Le programme propose aux parents des activités complémentaires à mettre en œuvre à la maison. Il est essentiel que les parents et les personnes qui s'occupent des enfants soient impliqués et renforcent l'utilisation des stratégies dans les différentes situations et environnements dans lesquels les jeunes se trouvent.Elmarie Potgieter est la propriétaire et la conceptrice du programme ThinkWise.
Pour en savoir plus, cliquez ici : https://thinkwise.education/
The INSPIRED: Are You Future-Ready Conference 2020
The Inspired: Are you future-ready Conference brought together 34 international authors, entrepreneurs and thought leaders from across the globe to reflect on the future of schools, work, money, skills and sustainability.
The INSPIRED Brand was created by Elmarie Potgieter in an effort to further international networking and collaboration as well as promoting the achievement of the UN SDGs.
The INSPIRED: Are You Future-Ready Conference 2020
The Inspired Youth Summit brings together 60 youths from 30 countries to share their thoughts on the impact of COVID 19, learning and assessment, social life online, coping skills, the future of study and work as well as how to improve the world through actions that support the UN SDGs
#inspiredyouthsummit
The INSPIRED Brand was created by Elmarie Potgieter in an effort to further international networking and collaboration as well as promoting the achievement of the UN SDGs.
Hi, I’m Elmarie Potgieter
Strategist Author Coach Trainer Designer Company Director Board Member
I have been working with governments, foundations, corporate institutions, schools and individuals to develop learning and thinking skills for the past 25 years. The most important outcome of these collaborations is sustained growth - in other words, the skills that enable continued growth and development have been transferred. It is more than just the proverbial “Give a man a fishing rod to teach him how to fish” philosophy. It is more about enabling that individual to teach others to fish and to ensure that they know how to fully implement and grow that skill. As strange as it may sound, I want to make myself expendable. Only when I know I’m not needed anymore, do I really know that I’ve succeeded!
As owner and Managing Director of RITE Education Sdn Bhd and RITE International Inc, Elmarie Potgieter has led several international education transformation and capacity building projects in Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Tanzania, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon and Indonesia. In March 2019 Elmarie was awarded “Distinguished Fellow” by Cambridge Global Learning UK as well as Malaysian Women Leader Award, and January 2018 the “Malaysian Women Icon” award for her work in education transformation. She is also recognised internationally as holder of the prestigious “Meaningful Business” award for promoting the UN SDGs. She is a well-known consultant with organisations such as PEMANDU, PADU, AIM and the Ministry of Education Malaysia and has a wide following on social media.
Elmarie is passionate about the promotion of emotional intelligence and thinking skills, especially in young children. She is the ideator and co-author of the RITE International Trademarked Programme, “ThinkWise: Little People Big Ideas”, a curriculum for the development of thinking skills. Her work in the development of thinking skills is widely recognised in the region and as a result she is a regular guest speaker and panellist in international and local education events and national radio broadcasts. As internationally accredited emotional intelligence coach, she is also regularly invited as guest lecturer on emotional intelligence, mindfulness and positive behaviour management. She is a passionate student of neuroscience and the impact that this growing field has on teaching and learning.
Elmarie also lead the design of the Genovasi Project which was commissioned by the Agensi Innovasi Malaysia and the Genovasi Foundation. Genosis is an innovative framework for embedding design thinking and enquiry-based learning in schools in Malaysia and the Asean Region. She also leads an international leadership capacity building programme across four countries. This programme called “EduLEAD” is rapidly gaining traction and was recently featured on Kyrgyzstan national television for the impact it has had on schools throughout the host country. As a result of the programme, schools in Tanzania, Lebanon and Indonesia have experienced a significant improvement in learner outcomes, teacher retention and parent satisfaction in the standards of teaching and learning.
As Education Advisor and previous CEO of the Malaysian Collective Impact Initiative, Elmarie has brought together more than 70 stakeholder groups to work collectively on community transformation through literacy development and strengthening student aspirations. This Collective Impact Model is the first of its kind in Asia. Its success in Malaysia inspired the development of similar models in Hong Kong and Singapore. Elmarie is the author of “The Trust School Standards and Principles” and was the chief architect of the Yayasan AMIR Trust Schools Programme which aims at finding a sustainable solution to transformation of Malaysian public schools. This programme is currently implemented in more than 100 Malaysian public schools nationwide.
Elmarie is the Immediate Past President of the Petaling Jaya Soroptimist International organisation, a member of the 2017 Science Outlook Committee and her spare time also a keen photographer, jewellery designer and performing artist. She holds a BA Hons and HED from the University of Pretoria, South Africa. She is a Six Seconds Accredited Emotional Intelligence coach, a Prince2 Practitioner and a Kagan Institute Scholarship Winner. Elmarie has attended numerous courses across the world in education leadership, change management, neuroscience in education and emotional intelligence by leaders in the field
Testimonials
-
Dr Helen Maffini
I have had the opportunity to work and to collaborate with Elmarie Potgieter many times over the years. Elmarie and her team has an excellent reputation and is known for improving education settings in many countries through their innovative and research based approaches to school improvement. I have always enjoyed working with such a professional company led by Elmarie Potgieter. In addition to winning many awards , her work is known as an excellent resource which is truly changing education on a global scale. was a speaker. MindBE is currently collaborating on a Youth Inspired Summit with teens from around the globe.
AUTHOR & DIRECTOR, MINDBE EDUCATION
-
Zulfirdaus Abu Hassan
2021 marks the fourth year of our working relationship with Elmarie Potgieter and her team. We engaged her company, RITE International, in 2018 to design and execute of our key projects called EduLead and the rest is history. One of the things that made RITE special is the team’s selflessness in delivering the tasks which in many instances are beyond the scope - a testament to their commitment in delivering quality products and most importantly a testament to their passion in improving the education system. Working with Elmarie and her team team has been nothing but a remarkable journey of learning and discovery.
HEAD: PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT NAMA FOUNDATION
-
Dr Henry Koge
Elmarie Potgieter for me has been an ardent advocate of 21 st century education with a genuine mission to drive student-centred learning with a strategic focus on promoting critical thinking and the growth mindset philosophy in classrooms and schools. Her company is a dedicated service provider and consultancy with an outstanding global reputation and professional outlook which is weaved in its corporate culture and identity. Elmarie ha an impeccable track record of excellence in designing, implementing and evaluating creative and innovative education interventions, some of which I am proud and privileged to have participated in.
FOUNDER: TEACH CONNECT
-
Ruiz Clark
Elmarie was one of the major reasons why I joined LeapEd back in 2014; I specifically wanted to work under her leadership! She is an incredibly brilliant and inspiring educator who deeply understands her craft. I am fortunate that I had the chance to have her as a mentor and boss. Under her supervision, I was provided the creative space to explore innovative ideas, the autonomy to leverage my strengths, and the feedback necessary to grow.
DEPUTY CEO AT TEACH FOR ARMENIA -
Gregory Biggs
Elmarie's passion for learning is inspiring and infectious and, when combined with her ability to deliver impact at the individual learner-level all the way through classroom-level, school-level, groups-of-school-level and even at ministry-level, her professional and organisational capability is as impressive as her passion for learning. A hugely experienced and well-respected practitioner and adviser, it has been a pleasure to have worked with Elmarie and learn from her internationally-minded track record of positively impacting learning around the world.
DIRECTOR, FIELDWORK EDUCATION.NORD ANGLIA EDUCATION
In the Media
Rockin' CEOs 2017
Malaysia Woman Leader Award
Malaysa Women Icons Award
Receiving an award from Dr Tun Mahathir, Prime Minister of Malaysia
